NEXT TO THE DEPOT. IT STARTED WITH A VETERANS MOTORCYCLE
CARAVAN BY THE PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS. THE MILITARY SERVICE FLAGS AND U.S.FLAG WERE RAISED WITH A GUN SALUTE AT THE END AND THE SINGING OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. FRAN RILEY OF KWQC-TV IN DAVENPORT SPOKE FIRST, ON BEHALF OF HIS WIFE WHOSE SON WAS THE FIRST CASUALITY (A MARINE) OF THE WAR IN IRAQ. THEN THE VICE-COMMANDER OF THE IOWA AMERICAN LEGION, MONTY RAILSBACK, WAS THE MAIN SPEAKER. CONGRESSMAN BRAYLEY'S REPRESENTATIVE ALSO SPOKE. THE EMCEE WAS KENNY WAGNER OF DELMAR (IN PHOTO WITH HEAD MIKE AND STRIPED SPORT SHIRT) AND THERE WAS BAGPIPE MUSIC AND TAPS WAS PLAYED BY A VIOLINIST.
IT WAS VERY WINDY, BUT SINCE FLAGS WERE A BIG PART OF THE DEDICATION, IT WAS GOOD TO HAVE THE WIND. IT WAS A NICE PROGRAM
WITH A VERY GOOD CROWD. A LUNCH (FREE WILL DONATION) WAS SERVED TO MOST AFTER THE EVENT. THE BOTTOM PHOTO IS OF THE TWO VETERANS (AND RAILROAD BUFFS) WHO CAME TO DELMAR LAST YEAR AND
RE-OPENED THE DEPOT MUSEUM RAILROAD WITH ARTIFACTS FROM A MUSEUM IN THE QUAD CITIES. THEY THEN WORKED THE MUSEUM 6 DAYS A WEEK LAST SUMMER AND INTO FALL. NO PAY. IT IS ONE OF THE FINEST
RAILROAD MUSEUMS IN THE MIDWEST. THIS YEAR, THEY DECIDED TO ADD
MILITARY ITEMS AND ADDED MILITARY TO THE NAME. AND IT WAS THESE
TWO THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MEMORIAL OUTSIDE THE DEPOT.
THEY DESIGNED AND BUILT IT, AND WITH THEIR MONEY FOR THE MOST PART.
AND THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR TODAY'S EVENT. DELMAR SHOULD
SOMEDAY MAKE THEM "HONORARY" CITIZENS. THE MUSEUM HAS BROUGHT MANY VISITORS TO DELMAR AND BY ADDING MILITARY ITEMS.....IT SHOULD DRAW EVEN MORE VISITORS. IT IS OPEN FROM 10:00 A.M. UNTIL 4 P.M. TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. CLOSED MONDAYS. ADMISSION IS $5 TO
COVER COST OF KEEPING UP THE MUSEUM, ETC. TOM REDDIN FROM CEDAR RAPIDS IS ON THE LEFT AND DICK NOONAN FROM CASCADE IS ON
THE RIGHT. THEY COMMUTE DAILY TO DELMAR AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE.
THANK YOU TOM AND DICK!
AS ALWAYS, CLICK-ON THE PHOTOS TO ENLARGE THEM.DENNIS VOY
TRY AND VISIT THE MUSEUM SOON
